Erik Esterbauer

Erik Esterbauer is an Associate Professor at the Mozarteum University's Department of Elemental Music & Dance Education – Orff Institute, specializing in inclusive music and dance education. His academic roles include leadership in the Music and Dance in Inclusion and Diversity (MTID) program and contributions to transdisciplinary research at the School of Music & Art Education (SOMA). He holds a doctoral degree in psychology and a master's in elemental music pedagogy, with post-doctoral work focusing on inclusive education frameworks.

• Professorial Position: Associate Professor since 2023
• Key Affiliations: Orff Institute, SOMA, and EBQ Alumni Network
• Research Focus: Inclusive education, qualitative assessment tools (EBQ-P Instrument), and art-based pedagogy

His research emphasizes relationship quality in educational settings, reflected in his habilitation thesis on the EBQ-P instrument. He has published extensively on inclusive methodologies in music and dance, qualitative research in artistic fields, and the intersection of psychology and art education.

Esterbauer's professional background spans clinical psychology (20+ years) and music education, with roles at institutions like the Zentrum ELF and Mobile Aid Service GmbH. He is a founding member of Interest Group Music Inclusive Austria (IGMI) and actively participates in international conferences (ISME, EAS).

Awards include the Austrian Social Forum Research Award (2003) for work on stress and stroke risk factors. His teaching integrates creative processes with social work, emphasizing collaborative and inclusive practices.

Key projects include the 'Young Art' initiative (2024) with Paracelsus Medical University and the 'Play Space Music' program promoting inclusive artistic collaboration.